Tabuchi played catcher for the Hanshin Tigers from 1969 and 1978, where his combination with pitcher Yutaka Enatsu was called the "Golden Battery".

[3] Dubbed the "Hosei Trio" of Hosei University baseball team together with teammates Masaru Tomita and Koji Yamamoto, Tabuchi was named the first draft choice in 1968 by the Tigers, although he had commented earlier he would not join any other team than the Yomiuri Giants.

In a game against Hiroshima Carp on August 26, 1970, Tabuchi was hit in his head and directly onto his left ear at bat.

He was obliged to be hospitalized for three months with his left eardrum found severely damaged, missing out the rest of the season.

In 1975, Tabuchi was crowned to home run king of the Central League with 43 homers, batting average 0.303, putting a brief halt to Sadaharu Oh's winning another title after his thirteen-year streak beginning in 1962.